The noff-season, as in 'no off-season'

As the New York Times' Stu Hackel notes, the NHL doesn't really enter "off-season" mode until the middle of July. This week in particular includes a host of activities and announcements:

June 22, New York Times: Tomorrow, the Hockey Hall of Fame will name its latest group of inductees, and those newly eligible include the former Ranger Brian Leetch, along with Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Alexander Mogilny and Dave Andreychuk, but only four players can enter in any one year -- and the list includes a host of others, including the former Ranger Mike Richter, who became eligible previously[.]

Also this week, the former Devils Coach Brent Sutter -- who was supposedly homesick and leaving that job with a year left on his contract to run his junior team in Alberta -- is expected to be named coach of the Flames, which has some people very unhappy.

The N.H.L. competition committee meets Thursday, with items like the head checking rule, the issue of staged fights and a second Jan. 1 Winter Classic game sought by the Calgary Flames on their agenda.

It's expected that Red Wings VP Steve Yzerman will name Mike Babcock the head coach of Team Canada's 2010 Olympic team on Thursday...

With the entry draft on Friday and Saturday -- and the Islanders holding the first overall pick -- there will be lots rumored activity, and maybe some real activity, leaguewide on the trade market, not to mention the debate over whom the Isles will select with that top choice.

And that's just this week.

After the draft comes the flurry of activity leading up to the opening of free agent season on July 1.

Between now and July 1st, you can also expect a flurry of activity in Red Wings land, from Ken Holland speaking to the Wings' restricted and unrestricted free agents-to-be.

The Hockey News's Ken Campbell made a few snide comments about Yzerman's likely coaching decisions...

June 22, The Hockey News: Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is the leading candidate to coach Canada's Olympic team in Vancouver - an announcement that could be made sometime this week. Remember when that job all but belonged to Brent Sutter? Funny how two first round playoff exits can take you off the radar in a hurry.

And speaking of the Olympics, is there any way American coach Ron Wilson can keep Dan Bylsma off his staff? There are a number of qualified people out there, but none of them has a Stanley Cup ring. Had voting for the Jack Adams Trophy been held after the playoffs, as it should be, Bylsma would have been a slam-dunk for the award.

And he notes that the competition committee's meetings are highly likely to include fireworks:

There was a time when the committee had some incredibly heavy hitters on the players' side. Just two years ago, the players' contingent consisted of Brendan Shanahan, Rob Blake, Jarome Iginla, Martin Brodeur and Trevor Linden. Going into this meeting, the player reps are Jason Spezza, Ryan Miller, Mathieu Schneider, Jeff Halpern and Brian Campbell.

The league's side, meanwhile, got even stronger with the addition of New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello replacing Kevin Lowe. Also on the committee from the league side are GMs Bob Gainey, Don Waddell, David Poile and Philadelphia Flyers chairman Ed Snider.

A potential sticking point for the committee will be head shots. The players want a clearly defined head shot rule and the GMs are adamant any rule of that nature would reduce the physicality in the league. Whether you agree with them or not, GMs steadfastly maintain that if you mandate an automatic penalty against head shots the way the Ontario League did this season, it would give players the ability to skate with their heads down, while carrying the puck all the time with impunity.

Again, you might disagree with them, but the GMs believe much of the responsibility for avoiding a head shot has to go to the player being hit. The players are just as vocal and passionate that looking out for the safety of vulnerable puck-carriers will not make the game less physical.

Will the players be able to make a case against some of the most experienced GMs in the league? Perhaps, but you'd probably like their chances a lot more with the previous regime in place. Brodeur quit the committee two years ago out of frustration that his concerns were not being heard, so it could be a tall order for players with a lot less clout to make their voices count.